The governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party remains strong and prepared to surprise its critics ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Punch reports that Makinde spoke at the Southwest PDP Stakeholders’ Meeting held in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital on Friday
The governor debunked the claims that the party is dead, assuring members that the PDP is “well and alive.”
The Southwest PDP stakeholders’ meeting attracted PDP leaders and political office holders across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti States.
Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Debo Ogundoyin; PDP House of Representatives members from Oyo State; former Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; National Secretary of PDP, Taofeek Arapaja; Chairman of PDP in the Southwest, Kamorudeen Ajisafe; former governorship candidate in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, among others, attended the meeting.
The party leaders also received two groups of defectors from the All Progressives Congress and the New Nigeria Peoples Party into the party.
Addressing the gathering, Makinde said the turnout of party members as well as the defectors has proved those who declared the PDP a dead political party wrong.
“I can assure you that the PDP is well and alive. Whoever thinks otherwise will be surprised beyond their imagination,” the governor said.
He urged party leaders and members across the region to remain united and committed at the grassroots level, emphasizing the importance of strengthening the party’s structures within communities, wards, and local governments.
“So, my charge to you is, please hold your communities, hold your wards, hold your local governments, and it will be well with us,” he added.
Makinde also encouraged party members to be faithful and loyal, expressing optimism about the PDP’s future.
While welcoming Makinde and other party leaders, Adebutu said the PDP has proven its detractors wrong, insisting that the PDP remains united.
“Let’s remain firm in the PDP. We now have structures from ward to the national levels.
“So, we have nothing to fear,” Adebutu said.
Makinde had recently reaffirmed his commitment to the PDP, declaring his comfort in the opposition party despite a growing wave of high-profile defections to the ruling APC
“No, I’m comfortable in the PDP,” Makinde told journalists after closed-door talks with President Bola Tinubu at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.
He emphasised that his visit to the President was focused on governance matters affecting the nation rather than party political considerations.
“The President is the President of Nigeria, not the President of APC. And we’re talking about governance here.
“So I came to discuss with the President on some governance issues, basically,” Makinde said.
When pressed on whether recent public friction with other PDP stakeholders and his trip to meet the President signalled a shift toward the ruling party, Makinde affirmed that he was comfortable in his party.
The governor stressed that while he was willing to work with the President on matters of national interest, his party allegiance remained unwavering.
He argued that maintaining a strong opposition was essential to Nigeria’s democratic health, particularly as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Punch
